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5 Roadblocks which prevent you from Cracking UPSC

These are common mistakes done by most civil servant aspirants. By taking a few precautions and self evaluating from time to time, these small yet damaging mistakes, which provide tremendous hindrance in achieving your goal, can be knocked off with a little care.

Not starting on time to accommodate lazy days

While many students plan out their study and begin studying for the exam, that timeline often slips as the exam gets closer. After procrastinating and going slow with the vast syllabus in hand, and thinking of getting serious from the next day, before you know it a topic involving a week of studying turns into two frantic days to finish the topic in order to keep up. In order to avoid the panic, studying for exams should start well in advance and accommodate for a few lazy days as these.

How Can Non Engineers Crack UPSC

From 2011 onwards, with the change in pattern of the General Studies Paper-II (popularly known as CSAT), of the Preliminary examination, an anxiety has taken place in the hearts, especially of candidates from the non-engineering background. There are many misconceptions about the skillset the exam emphasises on. More than 33% of the people have cracked UPSC in their first attempt. Their trick to do so is a strong determination and desire to get through the exam.

Myths about CSAT

Focus is mathematics: The focus is not on the mathematical abilities, a misconception many are under. It gives greater emphasis to analytical abilities and understanding rather than the mathematical abilities and the ability to memorize. In the past few years, the concentration has been more on graph reading abilities and not on quantitative and hard-core logical reasoning questions. This provides equal opportunity to people who might be from non-engineering background.

Engineers don’t need to study for CSAT: There is a belief that engineers do not need to study for the exam, and they clear it without studying for it. But e

What is Mock Test?

Mock represents similar standard, replica; a near simulation of one. A mock test is a practice test taken before the REAL (Actual) test. A Mock test would be a simulation test.UPSC Prelims Mock Tests from eduSaksham consists of questions in the same format, difficulty level, varied topics and time limit as you will find in the actual UPSC Prelims exam.

As the saying goes ‘practice makes man perfect,’ it is utmost relevant to UPSC aspirants. Every topper from the previous years will stress on the importance taking mock tests seriously.

Type of UPSC Prelims Mock Tests

Mock test can be of different types based on your need and preparation level.

Full mock tests: This is a replica of the actual UPSC Prelims exam and hence must be taken very seriously and should be attempted as if you are sitting in an actual UPSC Prelims 2015 Exam. Full Mock tests cover all the parts of UPSC Prelims exam.

Sectional Mock tests: This is a great tool for UPSC aspirants to check their level of preparation for each section of the UPSC Prelims exam. It is advisable by experts’ to start with Sectional mock test before moving on to the Full Mock tests.

Topic based Mock test: This is very uncommon but is used by UPSC aspirants to prepare for some of the important and difficult topics of UPSC syllabus.

Why Should you take them Seriously?

Will I improve my score and Rank by giving Mock Tests?

Here are the top reasons which will highlight the importance of taking a good mock test

1) Real Simulated Environment.

Examination is a pressure situation, and if one has already been through such pressure situations by way of mock examinations it is much easier in real examination. Also students get clear with the exam pattern and time frame to attempt each question with eduSaksham’s Mock test. This test is nearly similar to the actual exam and helps you know what really happens during the actual UPSC Prelims exam.

7 Power Tips for Cracking UPSC Prelims

The UPSC Prelims includes two objective type question papers of two hundred marks and two hours time duration for each paper. One is on General Studies and the other is CSAT (which has now replaced the optional subject that was there earlier). With the Civil Service exam having limited seats and a vast syllabus , it becomes a difficult exam to crack. To ensure you crack it, we have listed down 7 power tips to study!

#1 Understand what the exam is testing you for

Changes in the question paper format tend to create anxiety. It leads to many misconceptions of what skillsets are required. Many students fear subjects like mathematics, whereas the fear may be baseless considering emphasis is on aptitude which mainly involves reasoning skills and not just mathematics. Another misconception about the prelims is it tests only facts and figures. It is not so since the student will be tested for some essential skills like retention power, clarity of concepts, ability to identify the correct alternatives with efficiency and accuracy, and ability to make quick decisions. By understanding the concept, facts and figures do not need to be crammed. These qualities require consistent work since they are developed over years and not just a few months.